Tag-Archive for » frugal living «

Nov
13
Holiday Savings
quinnschilling

I LOVE  getting great deals in my reader. Right now, there are all kinds of deals popping up for the holidays.

I do follow several really great savings sites. Thank you guys!

Right now, I loved this Yankee Candle coupon deal, Thanks, Together We Save!

Also, check out Little People Wealth for some great Christmas Savings Ideas.  I need to join her Christmas Challenge!

Little People Wealth Christmas Challenge

Category: frugal living  Tags:  One Comment
Oct
27
Cheap Laundry Detergent
quinnschilling
Tired of paying tons of $ for laundry?

Tired of paying tons of $ for laundry?

Today is a Lazy Tuesday Tip from…a SAHM who doesn’t want to get up at 6 am. Quick, cheap laundry detergent that works.

Well, I have been sitting on tons of items I’d like to post…but just have been too busy…or lazy…(I suppose a bit of both!)

Anyway, I learned about this when I was frustrated by spending so much money on laundry detergent. We have five kids and luckily for me, most of them do their own laundry (yes they are good!) The bad part is, I could spend up to $15 bucks a week just to have detergent–not to mention spray n wash, etc.

So, when I began to read about homemade laundry detergent, I was very interested. Then, I read about having to have the 5 gallon bucket and boil everything, etc and, well, I just did not want to try it. I was already way overstretched beginning to homeschool, with my husband out of work and I also did not want a 5 gallon bucket of liquid rolling around in our laundry room! I could almost imagine the spill:)  I did feel guilty, though:)

OK. So. I mentioned my reluctance to change my ways to a friend and her husband. He gave me his secret for easy laundry detergent:

  1. Grate one bar of Fels Naptha Soap (.99 at our grocery store)
  2. Add 1/2 cup Borax (We use Mule Team Borax–you can find at any grocery)
  3. Add 1 cup Washing Soda (We use Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda–again, you can find easily)
  4. Use about 2 Tbls. of this dry mixture in each wash

We have been doing this for about a year and I really love it. It is super easy and easy to store with the washer. My oldest kids grate the soap for me–they actually like to do it. I suppose we could also use a cuisinart, but mine broke a while back so I haven’t tried that. This leaves no scent (which I like, I’m allergic to stuff) I have had no problems with clothes being clean.

So, if you like the idea of making your own laundry detergent, but it sounds like a pain…do this one! Then, if you get all into it, there are plenty of fancier homemades to try. Good Luck:)

PS: we still do use spray-n-wash sometimes–I suspect it is bad for us, but I haven’t gotten around to doing something about that yet!

Let me know if y’all have any lazy Tuesday tips of your own!

Category: Lazy Tuesday Tip, frugal living  Tags: ,  One Comment